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34 • ROCK products • July 2018 www.rockproducts.com
W
ith the number of connected devices, sensors and
"smart" technologies on the rise, mines are in a unique
position to modernize their working environments and gain
a number of newly accessible skills, including real-time visi-
bility into the status of people, equipment and operations of
their organizations.
However, to support this new toolbox of skills and technolo-
gies, mines find themselves faced with another dilemma: the
need for a robust, reliable and mobile network that can keep
up with these demands 24/7.
Many mines face challenges with their network, and are
forced to watch productivity slow to a halt as cellular and
traditional wireless networks, such as Wi-Fi, struggle to keep
up with dynamic new applications and support automation,
and the mobility of the assets that traverse the mine site.
Connectivity to cell towers, which can be few and far between
in the remote areas where mining operations are often
located, can be further hindered by factors like distance,
rugged terrain or extreme weather conditions. Reliable con-
nectivity issues can leave operators feeling trapped and their
assets "stranded" without connectivity, limiting productivity
and leaving mines in trouble.
What mines need in this day and age are completely mobile
networks – a "cell tower on wheels" that can move with and
become one with the mine.
Mobility in a Mine
Mines don't always have enough existing cell towers (or any
towers at all) located within their range, and it can take an
enormous effort to have one installed in a new location.
But what if, instead of being statically tied to one site, the cell
tower had the ability to get up and drive directly to the place
you needed it, moving with ease to rapidly expand coverage
across the entire area of operation?
These cell towers on wheels could also spread as far and
wide as a site requires, flexibly augmenting or creating
Network on Wheels
To Create Mobility Within a Mine Environment, Take a
New Approach to Connectivity with Portable Cell Towers.
By Peter Lenard
Mine Mobility